Toni Staniewicz talks about being one of the Lead Executive Producers of RELLIK.

 By:  Shawnda Henslee-Knittle (2015)

One of the biggest challenges of a successful production is funding, which typically comes from the Executive Producers.  RELLIK, a ground breaking SAG New Media TV series is sure to keep you guessing, as you follow the story of two detectives on the hunt for a serial killer.  You no longer have to guess how this project became such a huge success.  Because today you get a sneak peak at what it means to be an Executive Producer of a pilot episode, and how the funding of a pilot episode is obtained.  Meet Toni Staniewicz of Toni Staniewicz Casting, one of the Lead Executive Producers of RELLIK as she tells you how a production team launches a project into stardom.  

                   (Photo of Toni Staniewicz, taken by behind the scenes photo crew of RELLIK April, 2015)

“As one of the lead Executive Producers it was my responsibility to find the money to get this project off the ground. I knew we had a great show but we needed funding and we needed it like yesterday,” Staniewicz.

Toni Staniewicz provided a detailed explanation of how this production met its funding needs.  She explaned that the RELLIK team worked hard to make this a reality by reaching out to local businesses for sponsorships, running a crowd funding campaign, and bringing in additional producers. The production team grew with both financing and experience by adding executive producers: Tony Marsh, Kirk Uhler, Lew Uhler and Rick Taylor as well as Associate Producers AJ Hearn, Tessa Zehnder and Tom O’Reilly. Staniewicz states that “Their generosity to help fund the project made it now a reality.”

Staniewicz was also able to help bring on David Franks and Melody Crawford of Indigo Films of San Rafael (known world-wide for:  Wives with Knives and I Almost Got Away with It on Investigation Discovery) as Consulting Producers.  Staniewicz stated “They have been there and done it so having their first-hand experience to guide us was a gift from the production Gods.”

Staniewicz goes on to say that RELLIK also found assistance from local TV veteran Christopher Michael Holley.  “Producer Chris Holley has brought a wealth of experience to the production. Chris is a perfectionist in all that he does making the rest of us want to be better. We were so lucky to have him on this project since he is usually busy with network level projects,” Staniewicz.

Toni Staniewicz is known for her work as Casting Director on:  My Strange Criminal Addiction, Wives with Knives, I Almost Got Away with It, and much more.  In addition to being an Executive Producer on RELLIK she is also RELLIK’s Casting Director.  The production team that Toni cited is joined by additional producers who also represent the creative team, along with Hollywood Veterans Tim Russ (Director), and Alex Wilkinson (Composer).

RELLIK premieres in June 2015 at the Wizard World Comic Con.  To follow its progress visit:
www.RELLIKtheseries.com, or you can find RELLIK on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RELLIKWebSeries